Death toll from central Israel strike rises to 5

Smoke rises from a strike by Iran on Central Israel on Sunday. Photo collected via UNB

Police in Israel say the death toll from a strike in the country’s central region has climbed to five.

The Magen David Adom emergency service earlier reported four fatalities from Sunday’s attack and said search operations were continuing for possible additional victims.

Iran has fired dozens of rockets toward Israel since the United States and Israel launched a surprise assault on Iranian targets on Saturday, sharply escalating the conflict.

Meanwhile, explosions shook Tehran on Sunday as Israel warned it would carry out sustained strikes against Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure. The blasts sent large plumes of smoke into the air near key government and security sites. In Israel, loud explosions were heard in and around Tel Aviv as missiles were intercepted or struck the ground.

The conflict intensified following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the U.S.-Israeli operation. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran against retaliation, saying any response would trigger overwhelming force.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused the attackers of crossing a “red line” and vowed severe retaliation. Iran has since launched missiles and drones at Israel and several Gulf Arab states hosting U.S. forces, while Israel said it would maintain continuous air operations against Iranian targets.

The widening air war has disrupted flights across the Middle East and raised fears of market volatility, particularly if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is affected. About one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes through the waterway.

Iran announced it had formed an interim governing council as the country prepares to select a new supreme leader. Iranian officials told the United Nations that hundreds of civilians were killed or wounded in the strikes. In southern Iran, authorities reported heavy casualties after a girls’ school was hit, though Israeli and U.S. officials said they were investigating those claims.

Regional tensions have spilled beyond Israel and Iran, with reported clashes at diplomatic sites and drone or missile interceptions across several countries, underscoring fears of a broader Middle East war. – Agencies via UNB